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NewsTribune / shawlocal.com/news-tribune • Wednesday, August 19, 2026
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by KEVIN CHLUM Entering his second season as head coach, La Salle-Peru’s JJ Raffelson is taking lessons from last fall when the Cavaliers went 2-7. “My first year, I learned a lot,” Raffelson said. “I think over my first year, I saw what could have went better and what we did well.” Offensively, the Cavs will have some major changes with a new offensive coordinator in Cam Mignone as well as a new quarterback in senior Grey Ernat. “We definitely want to be versatile,” Raffelson said. “(We want to be) able to adjust and move around and get into different formations based on what we’re seeing from their defense. We want to be able to throw and run when needed and just be able to move the ball effectively. That’s our main goal.” Ernat takes over at QB after twotime All-Interstate 8 Conference quarterback Marion Persich transferred to Morris.
Scott Anderson file photo
Members of the La Salle-Peru High School football team run drills during the first day of practice on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026 in Howard Fellows Stadium at L-P High School. per game were not what we envisioned, so this year we’re going to come at it hard and really focus on that. We’re going to put some numbers up.” The defense will look different as well, with Raffelson taking on coordinator duties full-time. “Our defense is going to be fast and physical, first and foremost,” Raffelson said. “I think we have some quick players out there. We’re going to rely on our responsibilities, playing fast and getting 11 guys to the ball. If somebody doesn’t want to run to the ball, they’re not going to play on my defense. “It’s going to be all about the attitude we have out there and playing relentlessly.” Sophomore Miles Hawthorne, who Raffelson said “has really stepped up and is doing well in the summer,” will anchor the defensive line. He can play nose guard or end. Senior Camden Greathouse could see time at nose guard or defensive end along with linebacker, while several offensive linemen also will rotate in on defense. Twins Jaron and Mason Morsche-
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Ernat will have plenty of options to throw to, led by senior Jaron Morscheiser, who led the team in receiving last season as he caught 20 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns. Jackson Myers also saw time at receiver last fall, while Brady Blomquist and Reggie Boatner will be targets as well. “Receivers, we’ll plug and play different guys in different positions to be able to be more versatile,” Raffelson said. “That’s what I’ve been leaning on. We’re going to be able to utilize them in different areas.’” Sophomore Sam Carter will be the team’s lead what Raffelson called “a good group of running backs.” Seniors Brady Twardowski and Cody Orabutt are back to anchor the offensive line. “I think we’re pretty strong up front,” Raffelson said. “They’re understanding their jobs and their responsibilities. The offensive line should be able to play pretty fast, which is good.” The Cavs hope to score more after averaging 18.4 points per game last season. “We’re going to do things a little differently,” Morscheiser said. “That’s what we’ve been working on this season. “We’re going to go at teams hard. That was lacking last year. Our points
3 2026 PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW NewsTribune / shawlocal.com/news-tribune • Wednesday, August 19, 2026
La Salle-Peru looks to turn things around after two-win season
Scott Anderson file photo
Members of the La Salle-Peru High School football team stretch before practice on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026 in Howard Fellows Stadium at L-P High School. iser are back to lead the linebacking corps. Junior Evan Downey provides experience in the secondary. “It’s a little different format than last year, but we have a lot of returning guys, and we have aggressive guys,” Jaron Morscheiser said. “We’re ready to shut stuff down. Last year our defense was pretty solid for most of the season. We battled some injuries last year, so hopefully guys can stay healthy and that’ll really help us.”
The Cavs are looking for a bounceback season after winning four games in 2023, three in 2024 and two last fall. “We want to get in the playoffs for sure and just turn things around,” Jaron Morscheiser said. “Last year’s season did not go how we wanted. For the past few seasons we’ve been trending in the wrong direction. We have to turn that around and win some games this year.”
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NewsTribune / shawlocal.com/news-tribune • Wednesday, August 19, 2026
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Hall-Putnam County looks to keep building, get program back on track by KEVIN CHLUM When Nick Sterling took over as Hall-Putnam County football coach last season, he did so with the goal of returning his alma mater to its past glory of deep playoff runs and state championships. In his first season, the Red Devils won three games. “As a whole, we want to keep growing, keep getting better and get the program back on the tracks,” Sterling said. “That’s what we’re ultimately trying to do. I think everything’s heading in the right direction.” Hall is benefitting from being familiar with the system in Year 2 under Sterling. “We’ve been going since June. We’re implementing all the same plays as last year. It’s the first time in years we’ve had the same coach, so it’s just much easier to put the plays in,” senior Colton Crowther said. “Last year it took a couple weeks to get to know Coach. But now we’ve had our before school workouts all last year and then starting in June, it’s just working really well.” The Red Devils have been able to move to the next level in their schemes. “Right off the bat, they were familiar with where we left off last year,” Sterling said. “When we started, I felt like we were already where we were Week 4 or Week 5 last year, so that’s good, because we can add more complexity to offensive line blocks and with different scenarios, rather than staying with the play, we can make adjustments that can make us a better team. But also we’ll focus on some of the smaller things that maybe we didn’t do as well last year.” Offensively, the Red Devils lost most of their top playmakers from last season in quarterback/running back/ receiver Braden Curran, running back Aiden Redcliff and quarterback Dylan Glynn. Sophomore Gage Olson, junior Tyson Zuniga and senior Houston Yanek are all in the mix to take over at quarterback. Senior Colton Crowther will play running back, while classmates Jaxson Pinter and Jaxon Weger and juniors Ethan Luna, Cam Pellegrini will also get carries. Pinter, Pellegrini and Luna along with junior Keegan Marroquin will contribute at receiver. “There’s a lot of guys who have been waiting for their time to get up there and get their reps,” Sterling said. “We
Scott Anderson file photo
Members of the Hall football team run bag drills on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026 at Hall High School in Spring Valley. have a lot of good athletes coming up who I think are going to be able to contribute to the team.” The Red Devils have some experience up front with seniors Alex Tucker, Kamani Power and Caden Ellena on the line and junior Chace Sterling at tight end. Sterling led the team in receiving last year with 17 receptions for 357 yards and five touchdowns. “I really think this year is just going to be about sustaining drives,” Tucker said. “That’s a problem we’ve had for a couple years now. We’d get on a drive, and it’s a penalty or this or that. “This year, we feel really comfortable with the system, and I feel like we’re going to sustain drives really well.” Defensively, Chace Sterling returns at defensive end after leading the team with 69 tackles last season. Tucker and Crowther will be among the leaders at linebacker, while Marroquin, Luna, Pellegrini and Pinter will play in the secondary. “If we play like we did last year and stay gap responsible, play with good effort and tackle a little better, realistically, I think we can have a really good defensive year,” Nick Sterling said.
Scott Anderson file photo
Members of the Hall football team take a water break on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026 at Hall High School in Spring Valley. “The defense has been a lot further advanced than what I thought we would be right now.” The Red Devils are looking for their first postseason appearance since 2022. Hall would have made the playoffs last
year under the new system. “Bottom line, if we don’t make the playoffs, I would say it’s not where we want to be,” Tucker said. “Our plan is to make the playoffs and go on a run.”
7 Scott Anderson file photo
WE GO THE EXTRA YARD
Members of the Hall football team run bag drills on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026 at Hall High School in Spring Valley.
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IN A GAME OF INCHES,
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NewsTribune / shawlocal.com/news-tribune • Wednesday, August 19, 2026
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Ottawa coach Jared Mundt hoping to steer winning course in ‘26 by BRIAN HOXSEY Ottawa football coach Jared Mundt is hoping to guide the Pirates in a winning direction during his first season at the helm. Mundt was a three-sport athlete and 2006 graduate at Ottawa, including being the starting quarterback his junior and senior seasons. He takes over an Ottawa program that finished 3-6 overall and 0-5 in Interstate 8 Conference play last season and has struggled to a combined 15-55 mark over the past eight seasons. He brings with him a motto of, ‘one ship, one crew’, meaning he wants his players to improve themselves and lift everyone around them. “I was very pleased with the work the kids put in in the summer as well as the first few official practices,” Mundt said. “I can tell that the work through our first two phases has paid off to have their bodies right, and we’ve hit the ground running. “We still have a lot to get better at before our first game, but I’m very happy with the direction we’re heading.” After missing last season with an injury, senior Eli Jeppson will start at the quarterback spot. “He’s picked up the offense and is commanding it very well,” Mundt said. “He’s a very smart kid. You explain something once to him, he understands it completely and translates it on the field. He’s been a very good leader for us.” The Pirates look solid in the depth chart at running back with seniors Wes Weatherford (37 carries, 219 yards, two TDs last season), Jordan Gomez, Jacoby Gooden, Diante Jones, Jerrimahia Jones; junior Landon Mangold; and sophomore Joseph Donahue penciled in to see action. “We are pretty deep at running back, so it’s going to be something that, depending on the week and who maybe is having a good game, certain guys might get the ball more than others,” Mundt said, adding they will all also lineup at wideout in certain sets. “That said, we are going to need all of them to contribute, and I’m excited to see who steps up every game.” Seniors Dane Carretto (seven receptions, 48 yards, one TD) and Rylee Houge will be at wide receiver and sophomore Bryce Ceja at tight end. Seniors Carter Price, Gio Gomez,
MaKade Rios for Shaw Local
Ottawa football coach blows whistle before play during the 2026 season’s first day of practice on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at Ottawa High School. Sean Brink, junior Carter Wheeler, and sophomore Tucker Johnson will be keys up front on both sides of the line. Weatherford, Carretto, Jordan Gomez and fellow seniors Braydn Streicher and Nolan Giacomini will rotate at the linebacker spots. Gooden, Diante Jones and Jerrimahia Jones will be at cornerback, and Houge and Donahue at safety. Ottawa soccer players, seniors Alexio Fernandez (kicker) and Darien Gutierrez (punter), will help on special teams, with freshman Henry Farabaugh maybe in the kicking mix. “We want to hang our hat on being a physical, running offense, and that means we are going to have to win the battles in the trenches,” Mundt said.
MaKade Rios for Shaw Local
Ottawa football players lineup before play during the 2026 season’s first day of practice on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at Ottawa High School.
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We are going to be a little more aggressive and gap-sound. We want our linebackers flying downhill making plays.” Ottawa opens the season at King Field on Aug. 21 against Plano before road games the following three Fridays against Streator, Granite City and Sycamore. The Pirates then host rival La Salle-Peru, play at Morris, host Rochelle and Kaneland before a Week 9 game at Rich Township.
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Ottawa football coach talks to player before play during the 2026 season’s first day of practice on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at Ottawa High School.
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2026 PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW NewsTribune / shawlocal.com/news-tribune • Wednesday, August 19, 2026
“But we also want to take some shots down the field with the passing game and get the ball to our playmakers as much as we can. We want to have a good mix, but to be able to have that mix, the running game is going to have to lead the charge. “We are going to have many of the same schemes that defensive coordinator Glenn Weatherford has run in the past with a few tweaks here and there.
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NewsTribune / shawlocal.com/news-tribune • Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Ottawa football player throws ball to teammate during play at the 2026 season’s first day of practice on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at Ottawa High School.
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BULLDOGS BUILDING TOWARD IMPROVEMENT IN YEAR 2 UNDER JAY SLONE
2026 PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW NewsTribune / shawlocal.com/news-tribune • Wednesday, August 19, 2026
by J.T. PEDELTY
The nine-man senior class is backed by an eight-man junior class, among them expected on-the-field leaders such as OL/DLs Zander Austin, Connor Magana and Mason Clubb, WR/DB Ved Chaudhari and potential x-factor WB/ LB Demarcus Hunter. RB/DB Bruxton Chalkey, OL/DL Makiel Green and WR/DB Brandon Mangruem will also contribute. As for the underclassmen, they too will play a large role for the varsity Bulldogs – a scenario made more possible by Streator sliding its JV games from Friday night prelims to Monday contests. There were eight sophomores and 15 freshmen on the opening prac-
MaKade Rios for Shaw Local
Streator football player throws ball during the 2026 season’s first day of practice on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at Streator High School. tice roster, with potential for standouts such as WR/LB Carter Heider, WR/DL Beckett Stevens, OL/LB Noah Pryor, OL/DL Alaris Luciano, RB/DL Kevin Saterfield and freshman QB/DB Zae Moton to make an immediate varsity impact. “Right now,” Slone said, “every single sophomore is getting in a rotation. ... Every lineman can play every position, and pretty much every skill [position player] can play every position. We’re very versatile. “When teams try to game plan against us, they’ll need to know where ‘so-and-so’ is lined up every play, and we have a couple of those ‘so-and-sos.’” Magana and Austin have emerged as leaders along a largely inexperienced,
MaKade Rios for Shaw Local
Streator football player holds ball before practicing play during the 2026 season’s first day of practice on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at Streator High School.
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They say Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither are winning football programs. The Streator Bulldogs enter Year 2 of Jay Slone’s tenure as head coach with big goals – both short- and longterm – and, they believe, things trending in the right direction after a 1-8 campaign in 2025. “There’s been a lot more commitment this summer than last summer,” Slone said on the opening day of official preseason practices. “The boys have really been putting a lot of work in in the weight room, dedicating themselves. And this freshman/sophomore class has really shown out, 100% attendance from a lot of them, some showing up twice a day for lifts in June and July. ... “It’s been a night-and-day difference, this year from last year.” Those freshman and sophomore classes are definitely worth a mention, but before they take center stage, this fall’s Bulldogs will feature numerous returnees from last season’s squad – a year stronger and wiser. Seniors WR/LB Sharonn Morton (407 yards from scrimmage, three TDs, 24 tackles), QB/DB Sam LeRette (767 yards, four TDs passing; 296 yards, 6 TDs rushing; Times All-Area honorable mention), RB/DB TJ Horton (101 rushing yards) and RB/LB Jerrad Clark (49 yards from scrimmage) return to man their skill positions. Fellow seniors on the roster as practice began included OL/DLs Wyatt Svetz, Matthew Dummit and Angel Rivera, OL/LB Damareea Hunter and WR/K Brenden Fleming. “I’m really excited to see what these guys put together for their last season,” Slone said of his 12th graders.
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but promising, offensive line. So has senior center Angel Rivera. “Other than [Rivera], across my starting line there’s not one senior,” Slone said. “So we’re definitely going to gain some experience there this year, and on the stat sheet we’re bigger than our line was last year. It’s not even close. So we’re definitely excited to put those big bodies to use.” Streator is scheduled to open the season visiting 2025 Class 4A playoff team Marengo on Aug. 21 before hosting Ottawa at Doug Dieken Stadium in Week 2 for what might be the last game in the state’s third-oldest high school football rivalry for some time. The Illinois Central Eight Conference is expected to move to a self-contained,
closed schedule in 2027. After those two nonconference games come seven weeks of the always-demanding ICE Conference schedule as the Bulldogs try to climb their way up the standings and back into the IHSA playoffs. Winning football programs, after all, aren’t built in a day. “We’ve just got to take it one step at a time, one play at a time,” Slone said. “Eventually, when we’re all on the same page every play, it compounds to drives, compounds to quarters, compounds to halves, compounds to games. “We just try to preach one play at a time, everyone on the same page, and good things will happen.”
MaKade Rios for Shaw Local
Streator football player throws ball during the 2026 season’s first day of practice on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at Streator High School.
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NewsTribune / shawlocal.com/news-tribune • Wednesday, August 19, 2026
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MaKade Rios for Shaw Local
Streator Head Football Coach Jay Slone motions to team during the 2026 season’s first day of practice on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at Streator High School.
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Streator football player holds ball before practicing play during the 2026 season’s first day of practice on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at Streator High School.
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New-look FCW hoping for fourth straight I8FA playoff berth by J.T. PEDELTY The Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland Falcons have a team motto for the 2026 season: “Earned, not given.” Indeed, with the bulk of last year’s leaders gone – including head coach of seven years Todd Reed – this fall’s cast of Falcons will be trying to earn their own place in the successful football co-op’s history. “One thing that we really need is a lot of these younger guys to step up and replace those guys we lost last year,” said new head coach and former defensive coordinator Aaron Jackson. “We’re relying a lot on our sophomore class to fill some roles that have been left vacant ... and these guys are learning that we can’t rely on the guys who came previous, but we can learn from them and continue on what they built. “There’s no riding on coattails here.” When FCW takes the field Aug. 21 in Biggsville beginning what they hope will be a fourth consecutive season culminating in a trip to the Illinois 8-Man Football Association playoffs after 2025’s 6-4 campaign, it will be with new leaders. High on that list is QB/DE Brezdyn Simons, one of just four seniors on this year’s FCW roster. Simons – without last year’s featured running back duo of Leelynd Durbin and Logan Ruddy, both graduated – is expected to take center stage as the focal point of the Falcons’ attack after a junior season which saw the physical three-sport athlete throw for 803 yards and eight TDs and run for 554 yards and 11 more touchdowns. Fellow seniors RB/LB Jack Flahaut, OL/DL Liam Kapraun (who missed most of last season with an arm injury) and QB/WR/DB Tanner Norman will also be looked upon to lead an otherwise young roster that features 10 juniors and a dozen underclassmen, many of whom will step up into varsity positions. “It’s good to see the future we have in our program,” Norman said. “We’re going to be relying on a lot of underclassmen ... but I think our team has a lot of potential.” “I’m excited for those four guys’ senior seasons,” Jackson said. Eli Quaintance, Jayden Ryerson, Dylan Carls, Garet Cain, Jayden Mays, Chris Held, Mason McCoy, Grant Wissen, Chris Manriquez and Zack Mur-
J.T. Pedelty file photo
Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland senior quarterback Brezdyn Simons gets in throws during FCW’s opening day of camp Monday, July 20, 2026, in Flanagan. phy make up the Falcons’ junior class. Sophomores such as returning OL/DL starter Doug Smith, Parker Hopkins, Eli Kapraun, Rylan Bohm and JJ Dawson are also expected to be heavily relied upon. Starting in late July, the Falcons came out of their summer camp with a lot of momentum, finishing with a 3-2 showing at the Macon Meridian 5-on-5 tournament (the eight-man equivalent of the 11-man game’s 7-on-7s) with their big men winning the nine-team event’s lineman challenge. It bodes well for a co-op that, since its inception in 2006, has 14 playoff appearances; nine over 13 years playing 11-man football and five over six postseasons playing eight-man. “Getting back to the playoffs? That would be extremely nice, man,” Jackson said. “And we’ve got the boys that can make that happen. They’re all very coachable, and quite a few of them are
very knowledgeable.” The Falcons will open the season Aug. 21 with a visit to Biggsville to play West Central ahead of a Week 2 Woodland home game versus West Prairie. From there, FCW goes back on the road at Milford-Cissna Park, has back-to home games in Flanagan against Blue Ridge and Hope Christian and a third
consecutive home game Oct. 2 at the Wood Shed in rural Streator against St. Anne. The final third of the regular season includes a Saturday, Oct. 10 trip to St. Thomas More, an Oct. 16 home game against Ridgewood and the regular-season finale at Galva.
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With a long list of improvements it seeks to make, Princeton’s football program has adopted a businesslike attitude in its preseason as a new-look Tigers squad prepares to secure its place in the team’s storied history. A 6-4 finish and 5-1 record in Three Rivers Athletic Conference play got the Tigers to the postseason for the fifth straight year, but after breaking a string of four straight campaigns with double-digit wins, Princeton's returning players have come into 2026 stalking bigger game. “Obviously, we have pretty high expectations in our program,” said coach Ryan Pearson, who enters his 10th season at the helm. “Last year was definitely not up to them. It kind of helped ground us and make us a little bit more hungry than what we’ve been in the past. I think some of the players carry a chip on their shoulder from that. “As a coach, you want kids that that are willing to come out here and try to prove themselves.” Pressed for time due to the season’s early start, the Tigers have had to work diligently to prepare new starters to fill several key positions. As many as nine ballcarriers will fill an offensive backfield led the last few seasons by graduated 2025 BCR Player of the Year Casey Etheridge. Senior Ayden Agushi (151 yards, two touchdowns) and junior Lane Goskusky (108 yards, three TDs) are the most experienced options at halfback, though senior Jaydon Cooke, juniors Kaleb Caldwell, Noah Gutshall and Jamari Williams, and sophomore Reece Pearson are also vying for time. Junior BrenScott Anderson file photo nen Emmett, a second-team All-TRAC Members of the Princeton High School football team work on drills during the first day of practice on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026 in Prouty Gym at Mississippi selection last season, is back at fullback alongside senior Connor Princeton High School.
15 2026 PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW NewsTribune / shawlocal.com/news-tribune • Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Princeton Tigers all business as new campaign starts
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NewsTribune / shawlocal.com/news-tribune • Wednesday, August 19, 2026
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Kane. “We’re blessed with a stable of backs that we can put the backfield,” Pearson said. “Having that depth is certainly a luxury.” Stepping up to fill the vacancy left by Gavin Lanham at starting quarterback is junior Jack Oester, who caught nine passes for 154 yards after being moved to wide receiver in 2025 while also returning kickoffs and punts. “I was excited (to move to receiver), because it meant I got to play varsity,” Oester said. “At quarterback, I just feel more confident, and I’m very excited about it. I enjoy being able to touch the ball on just about every play, taking control and trying to be the best leader I can be.” Senior left guard Landyn Kendall and senior tight ends Abe Longeville and Luke LaPorte return as starters on the Tigers’ offensive line. Sophomore Kolten McCarter and junior Daniel Gilbertson are vying for the starting left tackle spot, while center is a three-way competition between junior Carter Rossler and seniors Mason Cooney and Daelen Brzezinski. Sophomore Gabe Heaton and junior Andrew Giaquinto are the top candidates at right guard, while sophomore Mason Scruggs and junior Jake Arkels contest the starting Scott Anderson file phot job at right tackle. Goskusky and Longeville earned Princeton head football coach Ryan Pearson talks with players on the first day of football practice on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026 in Prouty Gym at all-conference honors at linebacker a Princeton High School. season ago, as did LaPorte on the defensive line. LaPorte and junior Deacon Gutshall return as the Tigers’ starting defensive ends, while Goskusky and Longeville lead a large group of linebackers seeking to make an impact. “I think everything’s going pretty well so far,” Goskusky said. “We have some new players coming in who don’t have as much experience on varsity, but I feel like they’ve all been plugged in and playing pretty well. “We don’t have as much prep time as we’ve had in the past, so I think we need to get in shape faster and then just getting the little things down, like techniques and getting plays down.” Giaquinto, Emmett, Kane and junior Sheperd Bayer compete for time at linebacker, while Arkels, Scruggs, Cooney, senior Jack Heaton, and juniors Daniel Gilbertson and TJ Kruse-Carter are the leading candidates at defensive tackle. Caldwell, Pearson, Oester and senior Bryce Cochran compete to serve as Princeton’s safeties. Cooke, Noah Gutshall, Agushi and Williams look to start at cornerback. The Tigers open the season Aug. 21 at Riverdale, taking on the Rams for the Scott Anderson file phot first time since a 41-0 Princeton victory Members of the Princeton High School football team work on drills during the first day of practice on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026 in Prouty Gym at in 2018. Princeton High School.
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Marquette Academy aiming for 14th consecutive playoff appearance by BRIAN HOXSEY For Marquette Academy first-year head coach Drake Davis, the progress he’s seen from his squad so far is exactly what he was hoping for. “I feel like we’ve taken some pretty big strides from Day 1 when I became the head coach until now,” Davis said. “I feel like we’ve grown as a team and matured as a team in just the summer and first few official practices. “We’ve taken the right steps to be where we want to be with a week or so before our first game.” Davis, who was an assistant coach at Princeton last year, takes over a Crusaders program that finished 6-4 last season and qualified for the playoffs for the 13th consecutive postseason. He is Marquette’s third head coach over the past three seasons. Marquette’s roster this fall consists of seven seniors, nine juniors, six sophomores and 15 freshmen. The Crusaders offense is expected to be led by 6-foot-6 junior quarterback Luke McCullough. “Luke had a couple of reps at quarterback in some games last season, but he mostly played defense, so this will be a big switch for him,” Davis said. “That said, I feel he’s shown in the summer and opening practices that he’s more than capable of doing the job for us.” Marquette will have juniors Landyn McEmery and Kenny Carlson at the running back spot, with junior Blayden Cassell expected to be “a workhorse” at tight end with senior Bobby Speaks his backup. Senior Lucas Craig and junior Connor Baker will be at wideouts, the latter being the backup at QB. Seniors Caden Shreve and Jerrick Meagher, junior Hunter Demink and freshman Cortez White will all be cornerstones on both sides of the line. The linebacker corps will feature McEmery, Carlson, Craig, McCullough and freshman John Pitts. The secondary will be manned by Baker, fellow seniors Ben Walkera and Koby Clark, as well as junior Nehemiyah Thomas. “We’re going to have an offensive philosophy where we want to utilize are athletes the best we can and let them use their abilities,” Davis said. “We might not be the fastest team, but I feel we are going to be very efficient in what we do. “On the defensive side, we are going to fly around and explode to the ball. We want a bend-don’t-break type of defense,
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Marquette football player reaches to catch pass during the 2026 season’s first day of practice on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at Marquette High School.
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dium. The Crusaders are then on the road against Madison and Tuscola, host LeRoy, then travel to St. Bede and Seneca. Marquette finishes up the regular season with three straight home games against St. Teresa, Dwight and La Salle-Peru.
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Marquette faces Hall in a 7 on 7 scrimmage on Friday, July 24, 2026 at Marquette High School.
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Marquette’s Luke McCullough runs ball during the 2026 season’s first day of practice on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at Marquette High School.
2026 PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW NewsTribune / shawlocal.com/news-tribune • Wednesday, August 19, 2026
and one where the kids are having fun and making plays. The key will be with that flying around is also being disciplined and knowing the assignments each and every play.” Marquette opens the season Aug. 21 hosting Aurora Christian at Gould Sta-
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Marquette football player runs ball during play at the 2026 season’s first day of practice on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at Marquette High School.
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OPTIMISM IN THE EYES OF THE STORM AT BUREAU VALLEY by CLARK TEUSCHER Pat Elder needed very little time to see progress on the field as his second season as Bureau Valley’s head coach opened this month. This time last year, he and his staff were tasked with implementing the Storm’s entire playbook on the fly. This time around, a large group of experienced returners, more established routines and a bigger roster have enabled Bureau Valley to begin the fall operating at a higher level on a daily basis. “Everything isn’t from scratch,” said Elder, who begins his 25th season as a head coach. “We have seven or eight kids out for football that we didn’t have a year ago. For a school our size and what our numbers were, that’s a big jump. It helps in every way. “It helps schematically, and it helps at practice. We’ve got enough bodies to do what we need, and some competition for spots, and that’s has allowed us to focus more on the task at hand. The
more bodies you have, the more football you have time to coach. We’ve got a big senior class, who are excited and eager, and they’re the ones who did the recruiting.” Hungry to improve on last season’s 1-8 finish, the Storm’s returning players took the lead on talking their classmates into joining them on the gridiron this fall. “We had a lot of people in the hallways that should have been playing but weren’t,” said senior running back and defensive end Blake Foster. “We just asked them nicely, and Coach helped a lot. Now we have backups who can go in and play, and we have a full scout team defense, so it’s a lot better.” First Team All-Lincoln Land Conference selection Reid Maynard leads an offensive line that also features returning starter Brady Dybek. Rogan Stull, a starting defensive lineman last season, and newcomers Brayden Redmond and Dominic Carton figure to play lead roles for the Storm up front.
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The line will be responsible for protecting senior quarterback Aiden Litherland, who has shown significant strides of his own thus far. “You can see he’s so much more comfortable with everything,” Elder said. “He’s smoother in his footwork, he’s got command of things better, he’s throwing the ball better. He’s significantly more comfortable and confident in what he’s doing, and confidence is the key.” Fullback Dane Stewart, a Second Team All-Conference pick after rushing for 816 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025, leads an offensive backfield that also includes Foster, Keenyn Richter, and Tucker Shane. Shane is also slated to start at free safety once again after being named the Storm’s Defensive MVP last season, while Stewart returns at middle linebacker, and Maynard and Stull are back at defensive tackle. Foster, Dylan Howlett and Merrick Johnson will expect to contribute at defensive end,
while Tyler Donnelly returns as a starter at cornerback. “Week 1 this year will be different from Week 1 last year,” Maynard said. “The three captains have all been on varsity for three years now, so we knew how to guide (younger players) like we were when we were younger and new to the game. We’re using the lessons we learned and the lessons Coach Elder’s talked to us about this summer as far as being a better leader.” Competing in the North Division of a realigned Lincoln Land Conference, the Storm will face six new opponents this season, beginning with the Aug. 21 season opener against Monmouth United. “With new opponents, you don’t exactly know what you’re gauging against,” Elder said. “Us and United are very similar teams. They’re a lot like us, they’ve got a big group of seniors that are expecting to be significantly improved. We expect to be able to play pretty well. We should be competitive with those teams.”
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Three-time defending I8FA champ Amboy/LaMoille/Ohio focused on present As three-time defending state champions of the Illinois 8-Man Football Association, the Amboy/LaMoille/ Ohio Clippers have a target on their backs bigger than ever before. While expectations are still high, they do not talk about winning a fourth straight I8FA title. Last season is in the past. “We don’t talk about the previous year here,” coach Scott Payne said. “We talk about this year. My message every year has been the same to these guys.” Each year is different, and each year’s team can leave its own unique mark. “That’s where you want to be as a program, you want to be at the top and have teams giving you their best game every Friday, and that’s what we get,” Payne said. “Everybody throws their best game at us. “I told these guys, ‘you’ve just got to take it one practice at a time and one game at a time.’”
Payne said this year’s group had a good summer and worked hard in the weight room. With six returning starters on offense and defense, the Clippers still look to be the team to beat in the league. Payne said Jose Lopez, who suffered a knee injury during wrestling season, is fully healthy with practice underway. Lopez ran for three touchdowns and nearly 300 yards in Amboy’s 30-20 win over Polo in the I8FA title game. “Jose’s worked really hard all summer to strengthen that knee up,” Payne said. “He’s back to 100% and he’s been a great leader this year so far, helping out the younger guys every day. I’m excited to see what Jose can do his senior year at the running back position.” Lopez will also have the luxury of running behind an offensive line that returns three starters - Trevor Stenzel, Logan Ketchum and Evan Flanagan. The secondary will look to settle into position after the graduation of Cody Winn. “Cody was a great player for us and
did a great job for us playing DB,” Payne said. “Filling his spot is one of the biggest things defensively for us this year, but we feel we’ve got a couple guys that are going to be able to step in.” Additional key two-way players back include seniors Caiden Heath and Colt McCoy, along with QB Tanner Welch. Sophomore Ian Hassler also looks to make an impact on both lines. As expectations from the outside remain high for Amboy, Payne strives to keep the players level-headed. “You can’t listen to the outside noise, you’ve just got to worry about what we can control every single day. And our kids respond really well to that and they have in the past,” he said. “Concentrate on this year. The past is the past. You can’t control what’s going to happen in the future. You’ve got to concentrate on what we’re doing today.” Amboy has a strong month of games in the middle of the season that includes road trips to West Carroll, Polo and
Milledgeville. “Polo, they’re good every single year. And coach [Abelardo Sustaita] has done a great job up there at West Carroll and getting that program going.” It will be Amboy’s first matchup with West Carroll under Sustaita, who was an assistant at Amboy. Payne also pointed to other I8FA teams that could be strong once playoffs come around. “It’s an exciting time right now for this league,” he said. Amboy’s previous teams have helped set the standard which has led to three straight state titles. This year’s group hopes to continue it. “That’s something that as a coach is pretty exciting to see, when the seniors can step up and say stuff and as a coach you don’t have to because they take care of it,” Payne said. “When these younger guys become seniors, now they say, ‘OK, now it’s our turn to step up and do that.’ ”
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Mendota football looks to build on foundation set last fall by KEVIN CHLUM Last season, the Mendota football team won two games - its highest total since 2022 - and was competitive in its seven losses in coach Jim Eustice’s first season. In Eustice’s second year, can the Trojans win more? Eustice believes they can. “I think this group can win more than two,” Eustice said. “The team wants to get in the playoffs. It’d be really something around here to be in the playoffs. With the expansion that happened, I think that’s definitely our goal.” Eustice has noticed a difference early this season with everyone being familiar with the schemes. “This summer was just so much easier, and you can tell how much farther ahead we are right now than we were a year ago in all phases,” Eustice said. “We’ve got a great group of kids. We’re only going to get better every day. I think we’re going to be a pretty darn good football team by the time it’s over. We’re not there yet, but we’re going to get there.” Senior Cam Wasmer said the Trojans are looking to take another step. “The foundation was set last year, so it’s much easier this year to build off that,” Wasmer said. “We already know most of the plays. Defense is already set. So it’s going a lot faster. It will be a lot better early on in the season.” The Trojans have some holes to fill on offense with the graduation of quarterback Aden Tillman and leading rusher Corbin Furar, but do have several key pieces back. Senior Javier Hernandez and sophomore Quinn Eddy are in the mix to replace Tillman after both saw time in relief last fall. “Javier is going to be a lot more involved in the offense this year in many different positions,” Eustice said. “Quinn is in the mix (at quarterback). He’s definitely a talent. He’s getting better every day.” Senior Jayden Lesley takes over as Mendota’s lead running back after seeing some time last fall. He ran for 61 yards and a touchdown on nine carries in the second half against Kewanee after Furar was injured, then rushed for 53 yards and a TD on 23 attempts the following week. “We’re going to be hoping Jayden Lesley has another great year,” Eustice
Scott Anderson file photo
Members of the St. Bede and Mendota football teams scrimmage on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 in the Jeff Prusator Athletic Complex at Mendota High School. said. “Last year he was really brilliant at times backing up Corbin Furrar. He’s going to be our bread and butter. We’re trying to find different ways to get him the ball on the field.” Wasmer and fellow senior Cayden Taliani both return after playing tight end last season, and junior Cannon Chaon is back at right guard. Joe Cackley will play center. “We have a year under our belts with the offense, so our offense will be solid,” Chaon said. “Our offensive line and our backs will be our strengths. Our whole line is looking pretty good.” Defensively, Chaon and Wasmer return up front. Cackley takes over at middle linebacker, while Hernandez and Taliani will fill the other linebacker spots. Eustice said Eddy will be a force at free safety. Seniors Gavin Stevenson Scott Anderson file photo and Bailey Ryan, junior Ethan Escatel Mendota head football coach Jim Eustice talks to his team during a scrimmage on Wednesday, and sophomore Sam Reyes also will July 29, 2026 in the Jeff Prusator Athletic Complex at Mendota High School. contribute in the secondary. “They look really fast,” Eustice said and the kids are getting to their spots St. Bede, and they really seemed to about the defense. “We’re not as big as very quickly, which is what we need. know what they’re doing much more so we were last year, but we’re very fast. We went back and watched the films than we did a year ago at this time.” Now it’s Year 2 of the defense as well, from our scrimmages with Ottawa and
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Scott Anderson file photo
Members of the Mendota football team take a water break during a scrimmage on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 in the Jeff Prusator Athletic Complex at Mendota High School.
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2026 PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW NewsTribune / shawlocal.com/news-tribune • Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Scott Anderson file photo
Members of the St. Bede and Mendota football teams scrimmage on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 in the Jeff Prusator Athletic Complex at Mendota High School.
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Seneca adjusts to youth movement, but expectations remain unchanged by BILL FRESKOS Replacing 19 seniors would be a daunting task for any small-school football program. For Seneca, however, it’s simply the next group’s turn to carry on a standard that has become ingrained in the program. The Fighting Irish enter the 2026 season with just five seniors on the roster, putting a much younger group in position to fill the roles left behind by last year’s senior class. “I was a little concerned about who was going to step up as a leader this year,” coach Terry Maxwell said after a preseason practice. “When you have 19 seniors in front of you, as a player, it’s easy to just step back and let them do their thing. So as a coach, you worry maybe some of those younger guys didn’t learn those leadership skills.” However, Maxwell said this summer camp has put those concerns to rest as a new cast of leaders has emerged. “The leadership has shown, the energy has been really good, and the attitude and effort - the things they can control - have been great every practice,” he said. The five seniors rostered this year are setting out to lead a crew of juniors and seven sophomores who are expected to start or contribute in a major way. As to how a more inexperienced roster has impacted summer practices, two of the team’s captains said it’s been a bit slower but has been accelerated by the work and time they’ve put in outside practice. “It’s definitely been a slower start, I’d say, with all the young guys getting more reps and learning new things,” senior linebacker Joey Arnold said, “but I think we’ve come together a lot as a team, especially by doing things together outside of practice.” Arnold went on to explain that stepping up to be a leader by example is embedded in the program’s identity, one that has helped Maxwell compile a 40-5 record during his tenure. “Leading by example is something that we’ve learned a bit through our leadership classes,” Arnold said. “I wouldn’t even say the coaches put it on us anymore. I think it’s something that we just know we need to do. ... It’s on us seniors to show these younger guys what it looks like to be a varsity player.”
Promising young linebacker Liam Baudino is part of a large freshman class that has given Seneca another reason to be optimistic about the program’s future. Maxwell said the class has already shown a willingness to get involved, not only in football but across the school. Senior offensive lineman Rayce Aukland was identified by Maxwell as one of the leaders on offense, heading up a unit up front that Maxwell says has impressed the coaching staff this summer. “We’re pretty young up front, but I think we’re going to be good,” Maxwell said. “As they play more together, they’re going to jell a lot more. We have a good mix of size and speed on the offensive line and defensive line. “That group is probably ahead of where I thought they’d be at this point, which is good to see.” Aukland echoed Maxwell’s sentiment and understands how important his role is in getting the younger players up to speed in a power-T offense that leans heavily on the ground game. “The O-line is definitely the passion of this program,” Aukland said. “We take a lot of pride in it, and I’ve been trying to lead by example to help the younger guys come along. I think we all understand that we’re going to run the ball a lot, and the O-line obviously plays a big part in that. “That’s how we win games here.” Including Aukland, the offensive line will feature a rotation of Breckin Anderson, Wyatt Holman, Logan Beland, Blane Lucas, Landon Macdonald and Chayse Bennett. The Fighting Irish will turn to junior Miles LeRoy at quarterback this season, with Maxwell saying the new starter is “right where I wanted him to be, maybe ahead of where I thought he’d be.” When asked about the goal for this season, the two captains didn’t mince words. “9-0, and just win every game we play in,” Aukland said. “That’s the standard here at this point,” Arnold said. “I hate losing. I think everybody here hates losing. When we hear other people saying, ‘You guys don’t have a lot of returning starters,’ it’s kind of like, ‘OK, they don’t expect a lot from us.’ But we know what we can do.”
Bill Freskos file photo
Seneca senior linebacker Joey Arnold
Bill Freskos file photo
Seneca senior offensive lineman Rayce Aukland
by CLARK TEUSCHER After a 2025 season that proved to be a learning experience for everyone involved, St. Bede looks to use that trial to its advantage in 2026 as it prepares for Jack Brady’s second year as head coach. A sharper, more aware and more cohesive Bruins squad has put together a productive preseason thus far, leaving Brady optimistic about the team’s chances to greatly improve on last season’s 2-7 finish. “I’d say the big difference is understanding what exactly you need to tackle early in the summer to progress the way you want to,” he said. “And the players obviously are more comfortable with me this year. They understand my coaching style and know what I’m looking for. “They’re understanding schemes much sooner, and we’re building quicker than we did last year, as far as being prepared and being able to do more things.” Much of Brady’s optimism centers around the Bruins’ line play, which will
be anchored on both sides of the ball by seniors Demian Baker and Gavin Gillan as well as junior Luke Fess. Juniors David De Le Torre and Brock Pikul, as well as sophomores Landon Moss and Kahne Gentert, vie for the remaining starting spots. “I think we all have a really great understanding of our blocking assignments and how to be ready to go on each play,” Baker said. “We’re way more physical getting off the ball, and we really understand a lot more this year. “I think it all starts up front with the linemen. If we do what we’re supposed to do, then we trust our team to do the rest.” Gillan and Baker will serve as the left and right tackles, respectively, while Fess returns at right guard to block for a new-look backfield led by either senior Stuart McGunnigal or sophomore Bruno Baker at quarterback. “We’ll have someone who started last year next to the two new starters, no matter what,” Brady said. “So hopefully a lot of questions and end-game
Scott Anderson file photo
Members of the St. Bede football team run drills during the first day of practice on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026 at St. Bede Academy. adjustments can be addressed more smoothly.” Senior Niko Pappas, a News-Tribune All-Area selection last season at the tight end/H-back position, will be joined in the offensive backfield by seniors Landon Marquez, Brennen
Hirst, Chase Riva, and Brody Burris, along with junior Max Moreno. Sophomore Bronko Withey and junior Jacob Inman top the list at wide receiver. Marquez is also set to start as St. Bede’s middle linebacker, leading a position group that also includes Bur-
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ris, Hirst and sophomore Nolan Siebert. “We made a lot of adjustments and made some strides with him this summer on going through his reads and what we expect out of him when he sees certain things out of the (opposing) guards, such as if they downblock or pull,” Brady noted. “We’ll have leadership with Landon back there along with the defensive linemen.” McGunnigal and Bruno Baker figure to be contributors in the defensive backfield as well, alongside Moreno, Riva, Withey, and Inman.
The Bruins’ early progress has them anxious to get their season started, with Brady’s charge to keep the team focused and its morale high. “They sense that the games are getting closer and closer every day,” he said. “I think they’re tired of hitting each other. But that’s OK. That’s a good spot to be in.” St. Bede opens the season at home against Fulton. The teams have not met since 2019, when the Steamers prevailed 28-20.
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Contact your local DIRECTV dealer! IV Support Holdings LLC
.99 *
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Easily access live TV and thousands of streaming apps like Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video and more, with a click of a button.
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NewsTribune / shawlocal.com/news-tribune • Wednesday, August 19, 2026
2026 PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW
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In life or on the field, you need someone who can help you find the end zone and win!